The Adair County Sheriff's Office and Missouri State Highway Patrol are investigating an apparent murder-suicide south of Kirksville.

Adair County Sheriff Robert Hardwick said 911 dispatch received a call of shots fired around 1:30 a.m. Sunday. Officers responded to an address on Burk Trail south of Kirksville, Hardwick said, where a male and female were found dead.

An autopsy is planned for this week that he said will help definitely determine which was the shooter.

Adair County Coroner Brian Noe said the shooter "appears to be Riley [Johnson]."

"It's very tragic," Hardwick said.

Law enforcement arrived at the scene shortly after the call and found the home locked. Hardwick said they gained entry and located three small children belonging to the deceased, in addition to two other adults, during a search of the residence. Those five individuals were unharmed.

Hardwick said circumstances surrounding the shooting remained under investigation.